.jpg "Actor Ali Nasirian blows out the candles on his 80th birthday cake during a celebration that the Imam Ali (AS) Religious Arts Museum held in Tehran on February 4, 2015.")
TEHRAN -- The Imam Ali (AS) Religious Arts Museum celebrated stage and screen actor Ali Nasirian’s 80th birthday on Thursday.
A large number of actors, directors, stage artists and literati attended the celebration.
Director and actor Farhad Aiish, who is also a lifelong friend of Nasirian, talked of his love of Nasirian and said, “I must admit that I was in love with Nasirian and his acting. I believe he is a great artist and has outstanding characteristics.”
“I lost my father when I was young and thought of Nasirian as my father in my subconscious, and I still deem him to be my own father. He gave me confidence,” he added.
Aiish’s wife, actress Maedeh Tahmasbi, recalled the time they had met Nasirian and his wife in the United States, and called Nasirian a loving and influential person.
Among those literati who attended the ceremony was children’s book writer Hushang Moradi Kermani.
Addressing Nasirian, Moradi Kermani, who had once collaborated in one of Nasirian’s plays, said, “I congratulate myself to have known you. When I was young and came to Tehran from Kerman, I met you and you told me I can count on you. You have supported me since then.”
Iranian Theater Forum Managing Director Iraj Raad expressed that everybody loves Nasirian whole-heartedly and said that Nasirian has been active in screenwriting and has made great endeavors to promote Iranian theater for years.
He has had a good deal of discipline in his life and work, Raad said, adding, “I wish his discipline would spread among others.”
“If what friends and colleagues have expressed here is true, then I must be the richest person who has been unaware of this fact,” Nasirian told the participants.
“What I have done in my life was for my own heart and people, and no other person should feel beholden to me,” he stated.
Nasirian has written and directed several plays during the long years of his artistic career.
He next cut his cake, after which he was presented with several gifts given to him by friends and colleagues.
RM/YAW
END